Varun hate speech: Mayawati government to take legal action

May 14th, 2009 LUCKNOW - Mayawati-led Uttar Pradesh Government on Thursday revoked the National Security Act (NSA) invoked against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi for allegedly making hate speeches. UP Government's decision came hours after the Supreme Court ordered the State Government to revoke the NSA against Varun Gandhi.

May 9th, 2009 PILIBHIT - A day after a court panel recommended revocation of the National Security Act (NSA) provisions against him, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Varun Gandhi asked the electorate of Pilibhit to rise against the 'anti-poor' Mayawati government of Uttar Pradesh. Addressing voters in Puranpur in Pilibhit, which goes to the polls in the last phase May 13, Varun Gandhi said: 'We should rise against the Mayawati government as she is against the poor and those promoting nationalism.' 'Everyone knows I do whatever I say even if I have to go to jail,' Varun Gandhi said, as his supporters chanted 'Jai Sri Ram'.

May 6th, 2009 LUCKNOW - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Wednesday said Varun Gandhi had 'no moral right to use Gandhi as his surname' because of his 'violent behaviour'. 'A person with violent behaviour can never be a Gandhi,' Mayawati said referring to Mahatama Gandhi 'who was the greatest exponent of the doctrine of ahimsa (non-violence)'.

April 21st, 2009 LUCKNOW - Hindus will avenge slapping of the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi while exercising their franchise, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Ashok Singhal said Tuesday. 'Hindus will revenge the injustice of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati against Varun while casting their votes during the Lok Sabha polls,' Singhal told reporters here.

April 17th, 2009 JAMMU - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Leela Karan Sharma Friday demanded action against Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for an alleged 'hate speech'. Sharma is the BJP candidate for Jammu-Poonch constituency that went to polls Thursday.

April 16th, 2009 LUCKNOW - If Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi did not behave and indulged in any more hate speeches after his release on parole, he would be dealt with more severely, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said here Thursday. 'We may have to use more stringent laws if Varun Gandhi violates the terms of the affidavit that he has sworn before the Supreme Court following which he was granted repreive,' Mayawati told a hurriedly convened press conference.

April 4th, 2009 LUCKNOW - Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Saturday slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Maneka Gandhi, saying she should have brought up her son Varun better rather than defending him. Varun Gandhi is in jail, facing a charge of delivering campaign speeches vilifying Muslims.

April 4th, 2009 LUCKNOW - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Saturday justified the use of the National Security Act (NSA) to jail Varun Gandhi, saying his actions were unpardonable, and warned that anyone indulging in similar acts would get the same treatment in her state. She also took on Maneka Gandhi, saying she should have brought up her son better.

April 4th, 2009 LUCKNOW - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Arun Jaitley Saturday demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government revoke the 'vindictive' charges under the National Security Act slapped on Varun Gandhi, who is in jail for his reported hate speeches against Muslims. Addressing a press conference at the party's state headquarters here, Jaitley attacked Chief Minister Mayawati.

April 4th, 2009 RAIPUR - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi's detention under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) for his hate speeches was unjustified, veteran Congress leader V.C. Shukla said Saturday.

March 30th, 2009 LUCKNOW - A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation will Monday evening meet Uttar Pradesh Governor T.V. Rajeswar, seeking his intervention into the case against party's Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi, who was booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) Sunday night.

March 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Justifying the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to slap the National Security Act (NSA) against Varun Gandhi, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday said a strong message had to be sent to those making hate speeches. 'We do believe that a strong message has to be sent - no hate speech against the minorities will be tolerated - and believe that this important message has been sent (in Gandhi's case),' CPI-M politburo member Brinda Karat told reporters here.

March 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Legal action must be taken against Varun Gandhi for his communal speeches, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar said Wednesday while ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retorted that the 'other Gandhi' continued to be its candidate in Pilibhit. The Bihar chief minister said it was his 'clear opinion' that legal action should be taken against Varun Gandhi.

March 24th, 2009 LUCKNOW - As the controversy over Varun Gandhi's alleged anti-Muslim speech rages, the Dharma Raksha Manch (DRM), an off shoot of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Monday come out in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate. 'We hail Varun for raising the flag of Hinduism.

March 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - With Varun Gandhi's alleged communal tirade fetching him unprecedented publicity, some leaders of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can't stop comparing him with his more famous cousin Rahul Gandhi. 'Let's send the hard-hitting Varun after Rahul,' quipped one at the party office, even though the BJP has officially distanced itself from Varun's alleged hate speech against Muslims in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh.